Customer comments on this selection.
 Good if you are JUST starting out
I decided to start a blog and I know NOTHING about blogging, so I picked up this book. If you are having a difficult time selecting which website to blog with, typepad, wordpress, etc. this book is great to help determine which will best suit your needs! I also like that it covers basic info such as trackbacks and blog engines. Again great if you have NO CLUE about blogs I would imagine if you have say a 40% rate of knowledge about blogging this book would be a waste of time.
 too many jokes hide the info
I know there's good information here...somewhere...but everytime my eye lights on a page I have to find my way around the author's witicisms to get the information. And I haven't laughed once. If they want it to be funny and engrossing, they should get Dave Barry to write it. Otherwise, it's just annoying.
 This book has everything you need to begin and work with blogs
Blogging for Dummies
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br / reviewed by Dr. Eric Flescher, Olathe, KS: (dreric1kansas@aol.com)
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br / Authors: Brad Hill
br /Publisher: Wiley
br / Released: 2006
br / Pages: 368
br / $ 22 USA
br /29 Canada
br / 15 UK
br / ISBN: 0-471-77084-1
br / Strengths: This is a text you want to get if you are just starting a blog or just thinking about one. The breadth and depth of information provided by the author will give you a solid grounding with blog,s no matter what kind of blog service you will use. The pros and cons for each service are also highlighted.
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br /Weaknesses: Black and white screenshots. Some screenshots are a little on the small side.
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br / Novice/Intermediate/Advanced
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br /Rating: 5/5
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br / I have created websites for several years. Then the word called "blogs" appeared and I did not really know what they really were or how and what ways I could use one. Finally I introduced myself by reading some blogs and "scavenging around for information." Several blogs were created but not before I decided to change where I put my blogs. If I had read this book first, that would not have happened. But better late than sorry and that goes for anyone else who wants to operate a blog for fun, home, pleasure or business. This 368 page book is a " steal" and is just what you want if you are interested in initiating or improving your blog.
br / The book's author created the Google for Dummies book and is a lead blogger for Weblogs, Inc. His vast experience is amply demonstrated in the five sections of this book. The nineteen chapters provide the full breadth and depth for understanding the many facets of a blog experience, now and in the future. There is more to "web blogs" then just placing a "blog that connects to the internet." It has become more complicated.
br / The introduction is well done and informative. Part 1 " The what, where , why and how of weblogs," covers entries, post and archiving and understanding the blog mechanics and elements. Now you gain a sense of how blogs appear and what the "look' for your blog(s) should be and the different ways to display your blogs to help make decisions. details the different type of blogs (social networking, self installed blogs, web host blogs.
br / Part 2, " starting a blog today" compares, and contrasts blogs to decide which blog type is best for your uses. This section covers blog publishing tools such as Blogger, MSN, Yahoo 360, Typepad and others. Understandable and clear, reading these chapters gives you reliable ideas for selecting choices and making up your mind. What I like about this section is that the choices were all displayed and especially for first time bloggers, a user can explore and choose instead of spending all the time hunting for the "right blog." And deciding the right way first, may help you choose your style for your blog that will meet your needs now and for the future eliminating the need for transferring and starting over with a different blogger engine, when I found out and decided I needed more flexibility.
br / Part 3 "installing your own blog program' has information about mastering your own blog domain, installing your own and starting. Movable type, Wordpress, Hybrid blogs are explored. While I did not choose any of these methods for my blogs, there are many who do so this is another avenue to explore before you start your blogging exploits.
br / Part 4 `total blog immersion,' goes beyond "blogging." learn about RSS feeds, running a blog business, running podcasts, using photoblogging.
br / Part 5 is " the parts of ten," is a curious name but is very useful as this section highlights resources and information that can help you learn more about blogging in general. I found this section useful because in many ways, authoring a blog goes beyond many facets of blogging which is similar to advertising and finding out about websites. Learn about blog directories, blog site trackers and much more.
br / Finally the glossary and index help round out the information. While the book is in black and white, this does not detract from the learning process or take away from it. The screenshots, many of them small, are helpful, give a better sense of how to utilize the tutorials. Along the way, there are four icons displayed in the text (tips, remember, technical stuff, warning!).
br / i wished I had found this guide sooner. When I wanted to find out further information about blogs and upgrading my idea, I was desperate to find a good resource and guide. A good book was difficult to find but I finally found this text. This dummies book is well done, informative and the price is right for what you can learn. The author has really done a " solid job" and has written a book that is not only easy to read but enlightening. The additional resources and knowledge in the book provide a great understanding to the `world of blogging, ` starting your experience with blogging but extending it. I recommend this book highly for those who want to start their `blogging journey' or "improving your experiences."
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Want to Blog Successfully ? Read This Cover to Cover
GREAT BOOK, I read it over 3 days and have so many page corners folded it will take me a couple of weeks to implement all the great ideas in this book. I write a blog about the local real estate market and my number one goal is to get pertinent real estate and local information out to the public in a timely manner. If you are a blogger or would like to be this is a really good book for you.
Thorough and Overwhelming, But Achievable
Blogging for Dummies innundates your mind with numerous options to select a blogging platform and launch your own space on the net. It's organized into manageable chunks that let you decide how to proceed with confidence.
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br /Had I read this book before I launched my blogs, I believe my frustration levels would have been much lower and success much quicker, with fewer problems. The book also reveals beneficial ideas and tools for bloggers, whether new or at the veteran stage.
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br /Chapter 8, The Ins and Outs of DIY Blogging, is the only chapter I found more confusing than necessary. While blogging is already a daunting process for some, it needn't be complicated by the technical instructions explained here.
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br /The topics of Real Simple Syndication (RSS) and money-making options provide a well-rounded look at this subject.
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br /Stay with the book's basic strategies for fast and easy setup, and you'll be blogging in no time.
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